[Photo:  by Tom MacDonald/WHYY;  newsworks.org]

It would be a shame if his errant ways become an excuse for keeping future qualified minority candidates from being elected to public office.

Reuters news reports that Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was charged with accepting cash, vacations, a car and other gifts over a 5-year period, in exchange for favors. The twice-elected official, who’s only 50 and who was earning $170,000/year, essentially threw his life away for just $54,000.

While Williams’ attorney said his client “vehemently denies that he ever compromised any investigation, case or law enforcement function,” a federal grand jury found enough evidence to indict him on 23 counts that formed the basis for a pattern of illegal behavior.

Before facing criminal charges, Williams agreed 2 months ago to pay $62,000 in civil penalties to end an investigation by the Philadelphia ethics board into his failure to disclose gifts. And last month, he announced that he would not seek a 3rd term in office.

Williams is the first African-American elected as a district attorney in Pennsylvania.